“I saw the affliction of my people and I heard their cry, I know their sufferings and I went down to set them free… ”(Ex. 3, 7)
DIOCESE OF PEMBA, PROVINCE OF CAPE DELGADO, MOZAMBIQUE
Sr. Marinês Biasibetti
Activity carried out in the province of Cabo Delgado from 03 to 06 August.
Cabo Delgado Province is rich in natural resources and the discovery of gas and precious stone deposits in the region has attracted many foreign companies, which is contributing to aggravate old conflicts, feeding the differences between the privileged and the poor and vulnerable population.
The attacks began in October 2017 and have taken on terrible dimensions to this day, terrorizing populations and forcing mass migration.
“The situation of the displaced is a major concern for the diocese, an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, a situation that is likely to get worse, the entire diocese through its organizations and NGOs, government institutions and people of goodwill are involved in assistance to the displaced, each giving their contribution, the number of displaced people in the province already exceeds 250 thousand with more than a thousand dead, civilians, security forces, insurgents, in addition to the disappearance and abduction of countless people, including journalists.
The City of Pemba has been collapsing since the war started, and in recent months more than 50 thousand people have sought refuge and sheltered in the home of a family member or acquaintance. Government, economic, social, ecclesial structures were not prepared for this new reality, causing great responsibility to fall on families that already lived with many difficulties, now sheltering from 30 to 40 people in the same house, an affront against the human and civil rights of each person. “
The diocese, through Caritas and other organizations, has promoted and is carrying out solidarity campaigns for emergency support, since the people who migrate do not bring anything with them and the little they manage to survive on in the city comes from the cultivation of small machambas ( family farming) or dedicate themselves to informal work in the streets and neighborhoods of Pemba, a complicated situation in a low-income area.
Regarding assistance to families by Caritas with support from other organizations and volunteers, it has offered basic food baskets and promoted fundraising initiatives but the needs outweigh both domestic and international support.
In the Metuge district (40km) there are 5 camps for displaced persons, with approximately 10 thousand people, most from the Makonde, Makua and Mwanis ethnicities, whose villages of origin are from the Quisanga district where houses, government structures, churches, mosques, were burned or destroyed and currently the only ones that circulate through the village are the military.
Although the attacks have already directly affected 9 districts out of the 17 existing ones, all are affected. The humanitarian crisis is widespread and the terrorist threats continue. The latest attacks are concentrated in Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Macomia, Nangade and also Palma (border with Tânzania, gateway for many immigrants). From the district of Quissanga with approx. 35 thousand inhabitants most of the villages were destroyed or burned, as well as government structures, causing an intense migratory movement, each one escaped as they could, so there are reports of people who lost their lives along the way, others were kidnapped and killed in the worst way.
Upon reaching the Metuge district, which had 42,493 thousand inhabitants. (2017 census) the vast majority were accommodated on the patios of primary schools, with 4 out of the 5 camps being in these school areas and only one of them with 808 people housed in the Namapala Agrarian Center also near the village. However, with the probable resumption of classes, the government plans to resettle these families in another location approx. 5km away. Although the government has already announced resettlement to displaced people, there are no signs that conditions are being created for this new project. Everyone wants to return to their villages as soon as the war is over, although the outlook is far from encouraging.
Other comments
As for Religious Life in the Diocese, most of the 26 male and female congregations, sodalities or communities of life, suffered some change in their mission due to the war, so as the attacks intensified the Bishop asked the congregations to seek security in the city of Pemba, or nearby districts. Many have remained but some have returned to the place of mission.
As we mentioned earlier, the municipalities of Macomia, Mocímboa da Praia, Namuno, Nangade and others are being punished the most, insurgents are increasingly bold with their constant attacks, destruction and death of innocents, people are fleeing to nearby districts , but nothing gives them security because the fighting is permanent, sometimes slower and sometimes with great intensity, almost daily reports of districts that were attacked are heard, although the media do not comment. The streets are full of soldiers, the population that remains is unable to leave even for their machamba and when they do they are at risk of being attacked, many remain sleeping in the forest, more than 10 thousand have already fled to the Province of Nampula and Niassa, concentrating thousands of people without the slightest conditions of human dignity.
Metuge, approximately 40km from the city of Pemba, is in a privileged position as it is very close to the development node of the province where the main administrative institutions and the main social and economic infrastructures are located. It is one of the main development channels since it acts as a corridor that connects the capital city and the other districts of the Province. The district was proposed to be an expansion area in the city of Pemba, which implies in the short, medium and long term the expansion of investments in this area.
Metuge, like the other districts, felt the impact and consequences of the war, worsening starting in April, when attacks in some districts intensified, including Quissanga, causing the population to flee en masse, arriving in the Metuge district. Weekl. new families arrive at the camps. Although basic assistance is provided by Caritas, PMA and other organizations, the needs that the population faces are visible, without having access to basic services and elementary needs.
About the Camps
Of the 5 existing camps, 4 are located in areas of primary schools, which will have to be moved in the coming months, since October classes should begin. Thus, the government is planning to resettle these families in an area close to the Metuge district, where people would continue to live in tents and since fertile land for agriculture is the main concern of the displaced, the government will have community land for agriculture a few kilometers from the village.
The government’s first initiative was the resettlement of the displaced in an area closer to the main town, but the Church and humanitarian organizations were opposed, since their position was strategic for the attacks.
It is important to note that the Centro Agrário camp, which houses 808 people, will not be moved since it is not in a school space.
Some common characteristics of the camps
– Houses in precarious tents, some reinforced with local construction material;
– Each camp is made up of two or more villages;
– All camps are under the guidance of their community leader, the same as the original villages, each of whom has a responsibility to protect his own;
– There is a mixture of ethnicities, predominantly Makonde, Makuas and Mwani;
– There is some resistance to welcoming people or families of different ethnicities, needing in some cases the intervention of the district administrator or religious and community leaders
– The vast majority profess the Muslim faith;
– In all campsites there are fountains (water) but none has electricity;
– Everyone complains that the food is insufficient, there is a lack of household items, blankets, mats, medicines …
– One clearly sees the suffering and the precarious conditions stamped on the face of children, youth and adults;
– Household activities (taking care of children, preparing food, looking for firewood…) are the responsibility of women, that is, life follows the pace of the village;
– Few of the displaced people went to the district village to establish some contact with the locals, this is more common among women, when they need something, like the pestle;
– There is an exchange for some food products received for vegetables or money to buy or supply other needs;
– Lack of cleaning material for latrines and government monitoring to clean them;
– Tents, tarps are missing. Most are torn or are too small to house so many people;
– The vast majority of displaced people do not use masks to protect themselves from covid 19, although they claim to have received one or more, they were also sensitized about the risks of the pandemic, but it is impossible to follow the measures when 15 to 20 people live in the same tent;
– All camps have already received information from the government that they will soon be resettled, as schools will be reopened;
– Everyone unanimously stated that they wish to return to their original villages;
– Many lost a family member in the war, others remain missing or have been kidnapped.
– Many children, pregnant women, young people and adults have no future prospects;
– Everyone has experience working in agriculture, as well as handicrafts such as making mats, beds or other types of handicrafts, however in the camps there is no initiative. People are unmotivated, discouraged and waiting to receive;
– When asked if in addition to the assistance they receive they would like to have some other type of support, they usually add what is materially missing. However, when we expand the reflection showing that there are other alternatives, the idea was well received. There is talk of creating small associations, having material to make beds, sewing workshops (since there are tailors) carpentry…., Food making, self-sustainability projects, that is, support initiatives for family income and occupation of youth and adults;
– The great apprehension is cultivation, as the month of September is the season of preparing the land for sowing and in these conditions they are unable to do so, increasing misery, hunger, suffering and dependence;
– Every camp has a multipurpose agent with basic training to deal with malaria, diarrhea, constipation, maternal and child health support, but medicine is lacking. In one of the camps they presented 3 cases of measles.
Camp Statistics
- Camp 3 February; 796 families and 1,260 people;
- BANDAR camp; 413 families and 1,428 people;
- Camp Manono; brings together 3 villages with 4,400 people;
Quelite: 247 families and 1,131 people;
May 1st: 350 families and 1,509 people;
Natuco: 370 families and 1,786 people;
- Namoapala settlement;4 villages with 2,500 people;
Muissi: 142 families 582 people;
Muiriti 151 families 609 people;
Namiteue: 92 families 652 people;
Walopuana 220 families and 766 people;
The latter are from villages closer to the Metuge district, but were also victims of the attacks.
- Camp Camp Agrário Namapala; (for now it will not be moved). 212 families and 808 people.
In Pemba
Most of the 50,000 displaced people who were housed by families in the city of Pemba live in deplorable conditions, between 10 to 43 members in the same household.
They arrive by sea from the districts of Macomia, Mocimboa da Praia, Ilha do Ibo, and use the Paquitiquete neighborhood, close to the Cathedral as a landing point and soon seek some family contact for their accommodation, 95% profess the Muslim faith.
Caritas assists the displaced, although in some districts is unable to deliver humanitarian aid due to the attacks and lack of support from some administrators who prefer to deny the existence of displaced persons.
On the third day of the visit, it was possible to visit 6 families, all of whom received from 9 to 43 new people, most of whom are family members, who face this reality of great need, elderly children, young people and adults all in the same space . How they survive is the big question. The Diocese through the Parish Caritas’s has offered food, but the precariousness is visible. Prevention against Covid 19 is not the concern of the moment, and little has been observed about compliance with preventive measures.
Information from the UNHCR representative says that in Montepuez, (approx. 200km from Pemba) the intention of the district government is to open an area for relocation of part of the displaced, there is still no confirmation of this, but a mission by partners must occur soon to assess the location. Those assigned to this region come from the northern districts. There are more than 30,000 displaced people in Montepuez and family members continue to arrive daily.
